Founded in 1984, Streetwize Comics produces free educational comics for young people covering a wide range of issues. The comics communicate important messages in an easy-to-read format that young people can relate to, particularly disadvantaged youth. The comics, as well as other material including posters and educators' notes, deal with topics such as health and safety, legal issues, racism, sexual harassment, domestic violence, homosexuality, housing, employment, gambling, drug and alcohol abuse and other current social issues. They are developed in consultation with young people from the target audiences and are based on the philosophy that effective communication must be built around the perceptions and needs of the audience. Funding comes from federal and state government departments and community organisations.

The Powerhouse Museum collection contains a selection of comics from Streetwize, but mainly those editions dealing with health and safety. They illustrate the way in which government and community organisations approach the dissemination of health information to targeted groups (in this case, disadvantaged youth) and at the same time provide a record of the range of health issues affecting young people in the late 1990s.

'Krunch! #1' is the first in a subscription series that republishes the best stories from earlier comics. Topics covered in this issue include disability programs, skin cancer, diet pills, over-consumption of alcohol, vaginal infections, and diabetes.

The comic book was produced in April 1997 by Streetwize Comics Ltd. This issue was developed with funding from the Community Organisations Support Programme of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services. The art and writing team for Streetwize Comics is lRenata Jones (editor/writer), Gayle Kennedy (Aboriginal editor/writer), Ross Carnsew (art director/artist), Stephen Crowley (artist) and Eddie Greenaway (writer/researcher).

Portrait-format comic book with a colour illustration depicting four young people in a car on the cover. The comic book bears the title 'Krunch!' in red. The internal pages feature black and white illustrations. The 'Krunch' subscription series republishes the best stories from previous comics. This issue features focuses on health issues such as disability programs, skin cancer, diet pills, alcohol use and diabetes.

Images on this site are reproduced for the purposes of research and study only. Whilst every effort has been made to trace the Copyright holders, we would be grateful for any information concerning Copyright of the images and we will withdraw them immediately on Copyright holder's request.